Mouse Research Offers Down’s Syndrome Hope

SCIENTISTS yesterday announced the most successful recreation of Down’s syndrome in mice so far, in a move which increases the prospect of a better understanding of the condition.

A study led by the Medical Research Council in the UK created a mouse model of Down’s syndrome by adding an almost complete copy of human chromosome 21 to mouse embryonic cells.

A person with Down’s syndrome has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the normal two.

The findings, published in Science journal, show the mice created had traits characteristic of Down’s syndrome, including learning and memory difficulties, congenital heart defects in some cases and a relatively small lower jaw.

The Down’s Syndrome Association said it appeared to represent a significant breakthrough.

The scientists, however, said that more research would be necessary.

People with Down’s syndrome are more prone to conditions such as Alzheimer’s, heart defects and leukaemia. It is estimated there are about 6000 people in Scotland with the condition.

It is hoped the study will also lead to a better understanding of problems associated with other “aneuploidies”, conditions in which people have the wrong number of chromosomes.